Connecticut western news., 1887-06-01

no right to claim kinship with the old family of the Kurts of Alten-Aar. -
 Tho emperor wished to reward this Ludwig for his services, and so he looked around for some strong castle to give to Ludwig's keep.
 The eyes of the tyrant fell upon the Tower of Averbock. Conrad of Kiphau- sen was dead, and his daughter, Joque- line, laxen. haired beauty of twenty, held her fathers lands, and was toasted much by the neighboring gaaients under the title of the ''Lady of Averboch."
 Many German lord had laid siege to the heart of the heircss of Averbock, and report hinted that the young Lord of Eberstine was the favored lover.
 The tyrant noted the Castle of Aver book and its fair lady. He sent mes- sage to her and proposed to wed her to noble knight of his court for tho great love he had borne her father, the dead Conrad. But the spirited Joqueline, whose carly life had bcen spent in the tented field, aud who possessed war rior's heart beneath her sllKcn robes, de- clined the emperor's offer. She under stood that the crafty Albert coveted her fair castle for one of his favorites. J
 The tyrant was not easily bafflcd, and royal herald rode to the Castle of Aver. boch and made proclamation that Lud- wig of Kurt, cousin to the dead lord, Everhard, the Rhenish rcd beard, claimed the domain of Avcrboch, and that the emperor summoned the lady to appear at his imperial court to contest the claim.
 That the adventurer WIS neither kith nor kin to the old robber lord was ap- parent to all; but what justice could ono expect at the hands of tyrant, eager to reward one of his minionA
 The emperor affected to hear the case ; both parties made their statements, the adventurer backing his claim by twenty rogucs, who sworc right stoughtly that they knew him to be the cousin of the old red -beard.
 Joqueline was in despair, for sho saw that the trial was a farce, and that the emperor intended to decide against her regardless of the truth, and, as tho fast resource, she claimed tho "ordeal by battle," the right of every noble when life or prop erty was at stake.
 "Grant her prayer, most, noble em- pcror," cried the adventurer, confident in his skill in arms. 'Let her produce a champion, and if with lance do not prove that my cause is just, then l am content to lose."
 Within ono week Joqueline must pro- duce champion in tho lists ready to contend with Ludwig or lose her estate. The maiden counted that young Eber. stine would fight for her, but ere tho time came, on couch of sickness the young lord lay.
 The trumpcts sounded in the lists be- fore the emperor and his court, on the appointed day, when Ludwig cast his steel-clad gauntlet down. Neither the lady nor her champion seemed at hand, but at the last summons slightly built knight, arraycd in armor, with the viso down, rode into the lists. The knigh was stranger to all. A purple plum floated from his helmet, but his shield was clear of device.
 ''IIo, you, Purple PllmcI' quoth tn emperor; 'fghtest thou for the lady o Averboch2"
 The knight bowed, the trumpets gave the signal, and the contest began.
 With leveled lances Ludwig and tn unknown knight rushed upon each other but heaven was with the right, for tn horse of the advcnturer shicd, and Lud wigs lance, forced upward, struck tn helmet from the head of the Purpl Plume without harm ng him, but tn lance of the unknown took Ludwig ful in the throat, and hurled him lifeless t the ground, and then, before the empe TOT and all the court, the 'Lady c Averboch' stood revealed in the un known knight. She had donned armo and fought for her fair estate. Eve after the day in the lists the banner C Averboch bore as it's device a simpl Purple Plume, in memory of Joquelinc' brave deed.